BSJ Game Report: Sabres 4, Bruins 3 (OT) - Bruins pick up point, fall to red-hot Sabres

Everything you need to know from the Bruins' 4-3 loss to the Sabres, with BSJ insight and analysis:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Sabres come back to beat the Bruins in 2022 finale: In the final game of the calendar year, the Bruins fell to a streaking Sabres squad 4-3 in overtime at TD Garden on Saturday.

Alex Tuch secured four points -- including the game-winner -- to lead the visitors while Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens also contributed goals for Buffalo, which picked up its sixth victory in a row.

David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand each found twine for the Bruins while David Krejci dished out a pair of assists in the losing effort.

Following a late equalizer from Cozens in the third period, Tuch beat Jeremy Swayman in OT on a 2-on-2 rush during the extra stanza, handing the Bruins (28-4-4) just their fourth loss on home ice.

Ukka Pekka Luukkonen earned the win in net for Buffalo, making 37 saves.

Pastrnak opened the scoring with a strike from his signature spot on the left faceoff dot about midway through the first frame. Slick passing from linemates David Krejci and Pavel Zacha helped No. 88 pick up his 25th goal of the season, and put the B's ahead, 1-0.

About three minutes later, Thompson pushed his goal total to 27 with the 1-1 equalizer. The Bruins turned the puck over in its own zone and Buffalo quickly got the puck to its hottest skater, who continued his impressive scoring campaign.

Tuch got the visitors on the board early in the second period with a breakaway goal 2:03 in. The former Boston College Eagle took a pass from Ilya Lyubushkin in stride at the attacking blue line and beat Swayman blocker side for the go-ahead tally.

Bergeron's equalizer in the third snuck through Luukkonen, paving the way for Marchand's go-ahead goal later on.

Cozens potted the game-tying goal with less than two minutes in regulation to send the game to overtime following a stretch pass from Rasmus Dahlin. Cozens served as the extra skater as Luukkonnen was pulled from his net.

TWO UP

David Pastrnak: The 26-year-old sniper has been the Bruins' most consistent goalscorer this season and Saturday was no different. Pastrnak's first-period goal counted as his sixth over the previous seven games. The star winger has also only been held off the scoresheet just five times in 36 games played, and has not gone consecutive games without a point.

Bruins PK: Less than five minutes into the contest, the Bruins found themselves on the wrong end of a 4-on-3. The Sabres could have quickly snatched the game's momentum with one or more goals on the man-advantage. Instead, Boston held strong and translated a pair of successful kills to Pastrnak's snipe shot later in the first.

A Hampus Lindholm holding penalty in the third forced the B's PK to be sharp once again and both units delivered. The Bruins finished the game 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.

TWO DOWN

Swayman: While Boston's young goaltender played well for most of the contest, Buffalo's tying goal was one that the Anchorage, Alaska native certainly would like to have back.

Cozens' shot sqeaked through Swayman, who appeared to be square to the puck, however it somehow found a way through to send the game to overtime. Swayman concluded the contest with 21 saves.

Second-period play: Although the Bruins outshot the Sabres, 11-6, in the second period, Buffalo scored the only goal of the frame and carried much of the momentum.

The lack of goals from Boston forced yet another third-period comeback and even though the B's managed to regain the lead in the third, the Sabres grinded out a win on the road.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Pastrnak was inches away from scoring his second goal of the game, but Luukkonen's outstretched leg robbed the Czech superstar during an important stretch in the third.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins and Penguins will meet at Fenway Park on Monday for the 14th installment of the annual NHL Winter Classic. It'll mark the second time the Bruins will lace them up at the home of the Red Sox after beating the Flyers 2-1 in 2010.